Georgia House bill by Rep. Hong voids confidentiality on childhood sexual abuse disclosure, passes House and Senate

Newly passed bill authored by State Rep. Soo Hong aims to void confidentiality terms that block disclosure of childhood sexual abuse, following approval in both chambers, according to the Georgia State House.

It passed both chambers as of Thursday, April 2, clearing the House by a vote of 174-0 and the Senate by a vote of 50-0.

The bill, introduced as HB1187 on Wednesday, Feb. 4 during the 2026 regular session of the 158th General Assembly, was formally described as: ’Trey’s Law; enact’.

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, this bill, cited as “Trey’s Law,” declares that any nondisclosure or confidentiality term in an employment, settlement or other agreement is void and unenforceable if it prevents a person from disclosing an act of childhood sexual abuse or related facts, as defined in existing law. It allows other parts of a settlement, including the amount and payment terms, to remain confidential. The bill states that this change applies to agreements made before, on or after the effective date. It takes effect upon approval by the governor or when it otherwise becomes law.

In the House, 76 Democrats and 98 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, with no opposition.

Meanwhile, in the Senate, 20 Democrats and 30 Republicans voted in favor, also with no opposing votes.

The bill was co-sponsored by Rep. Katie Dempsey (Republican-13th), Rep. Matthew Gambill (Republican-15th), and Rep. Stan Gunter (Republican-8th), along with three other co-sponsors.

Hong graduated from Georgia Institute of Technolog in 2003 with a BS and again in 2008 from Mercer University with a JD.

Hong, a Republican, was elected to the Georgia State House in 2023 to represent the state’s 103rd House District, replacing previous state representative Timothy Barr.

The bill was signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp on Monday, May 11.

In Georgia, the legislative process begins when a lawmaker, often at a constituent’s request, works with the Office of Legislative Counsel to draft a bill. After filing with the Clerk of the House or Secretary of the Senate, the bill receives its first reading and is sent to a committee, where most of the debate and fact-finding takes place. If approved, it advances to the floor for a third reading, debate, and a vote. To become law, the bill must pass both chambers, sometimes through a conference committee if versions differ, before being sent to the governor. The governor then has six days during session—or 40 days after adjournment (Sine Die)—to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law without a signature. The Georgia General Assembly meets annually for a 40-day session beginning the second Monday in January.

Information in this article was obtained from the Georgia State House. The source data can be found here.